As we reported recently, EastEnders characters Phil Mitchell and Sharon Rickman are set to become engaged, however, when the spoiler surfaced, the reason for their engagement – which is a sham – wasn’t known.

However, in new summaries about upcoming episodes of the show, we now have a clearer idea of why Sharon (Letitia Dean) and Phil (Steve McFadden) go through with their faux romance, which is to create the appearance of a stable home environment…

And it all begins when Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) begs Phil to come up with a plan to help him to get his great-granddaughter Lexi, who is of course about to be taken from her mother Lola (Danielle Harold) after social services deem her to be unfit to care for the infant.

And of course, it hasn’t helped Lola’s cause that Billy is now jobless, which is a fact both Lola and Billy kept from her social worker…

However, in a teaser for the episode that airs on the 23rd October, the BBC state…

Phil worries that being investigated by immigration officers will ruin his residency case for Lexi, but can an old friend save the day?

Later, Phil wants to impress the social workers for the residency case, and Sharon is stunned by his proposal…

And for the episode before it, which airs on the 22nd, the teaser reads…

Meanwhile, Billy tries to manage Lola’s expectations as she excitedly talks about the prospect of Lexi coming home, but does she truly understand what Phil has planned?

However, in tonight’s episode, we’re to see that Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) finally snaps and unable – or unwilling – to look after baby Scarlett, he dumps her on Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). Here’s a sneak peek…